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Who hates the stereo and clock design?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by seligman, Jun 5, 2011.

  1. Jun 5, 2011 at 2:40 AM
    #1
    seligman

    seligman [OP] Well-Known Member

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    My biggest gripe with the interiors of 2nd Gen Tacomas is the stereo design and clock display.

    Stereo
    The display flat out sucks. It's low resolution like a dot matrix printer, and impossible to read under certain lighting conditions. The angled back face plate makes the visibility problem worse during the day. The buttons are gray with white lettering, also very difficult to read in sunlight.

    Clock
    The clock display is even worse. What a joke. Middle of the day with sunglasses on, you can't read the damn thing. I often have to use my hand to block the sunlight. They are using 80's technology for the clocks.

    Some of this might sound trivial, but I believe there's a safety aspect to be considered. I've needed to take my eyes off the road for excessive amounts of time -- probably thousands of times -- because I can't read the clock or stereo with the sun beaming in.

    Since these features are designed for the driver to use them, Toyota ought to do a better job designing displays and buttons you can actually read on sunny days.

    Your thoughts?
     
  2. Jun 5, 2011 at 3:04 AM
    #2
    2008taco

    2008taco Well-Known Member

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    are your headlights on or off? I have no problem seeing mine during the day unless the lights are on because that dims the clock light.
     
  3. Jun 5, 2011 at 4:07 AM
    #3
    astral

    astral On my second taco now....

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    Tint your windows, sounds like you have a problem with sun.
     
  4. Jun 5, 2011 at 4:09 AM
    #4
    acmair

    acmair Well-Known Member

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    they both work, and that's all u really need at the end of the day
     
  5. Jun 5, 2011 at 6:24 AM
    #5
    JMFH

    JMFH Active Member

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    I find the LCD difficult to read while wearing polarized sunglasses.
     
  6. Jun 5, 2011 at 6:32 AM
    #6
    TeamSarcasm

    TeamSarcasm Flawless Escalation to the Ludicrous

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    The better coast
    all three of these, but i dont have a truck yet so i cant say much on the topic besides dont wear polarized glasses and turn off your headlights haha.

    but a little off topic, the steroe is better set up then the new 2011 scion tc's that im looking at. the one in there, the buttons are small, the dial works weird so your always hitting the wrong stuff, buy there is no reading in sunlight issue

    why not make a cover to block the sunlight during the day?
     
  7. Jun 5, 2011 at 6:49 AM
    #7
    90YotaPU

    90YotaPU The Messiah

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    I agree. The inside of the truck looks so good except the clock and radio. My '99 was even worse. I didn't order the clock option / accessory (thinking "what radio doesn't have a built-in clock).
     
  8. Jun 5, 2011 at 11:58 AM
    #8
    JKD

    JKD Well-Known Member

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    Toyota radio displays are using plain LCD technology for no apparent reason. I much prefer VFD (like the compass/temp display) for all-around readability. Their radios also lack RDS (radio data system), which is infathomable in 2011.

    Clock display seems fine to me, but I haven't tried reading it with polarized sunglasses on. They switched from a LED or VFD type to a LCD type (like the radio) in 2009.
     
  9. Jun 5, 2011 at 1:36 PM
    #9
    seligman

    seligman [OP] Well-Known Member

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    In some of those cases, the headlights might have been on, I'm not sure. I sometimes have a habit of turning the headlights on whether needed or not.

    Whatever I'm doing with the headlights should be irrelevant to the clock and radio readability. Especially now. As I said in the first post, this isn't the 1980's any more.
     
  10. Jun 5, 2011 at 1:38 PM
    #10
    Jester243

    Jester243 all I wanted was a god dang picture of a hotdog...

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    some of this, a little of that
    it is on my 2008

    :anonymous:

    [​IMG]
     
  11. Jun 5, 2011 at 1:39 PM
    #11
    seligman

    seligman [OP] Well-Known Member

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    The light is entering from the windshield, not the sides.

    Seems to be the worst during the summer, middle of the day, when the sun is highest in the sky.
     
  12. Jun 5, 2011 at 1:42 PM
    #12
    BuzzardsGottaEat

    BuzzardsGottaEat Well-Known Member

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    Can't read what radio station im on at all with polarized glasses on. Don't look at the clock much but i definitely thought it was a bit simple/retro..
     
  13. Jun 5, 2011 at 1:50 PM
    #13
    seligman

    seligman [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I used to have XM Radio at home. One of the things I liked most was the display. Showed the artists' name, the name of the song or program, and the channel name. Aftermarket XM/Sirius receivers for cars do the exact same thing.

    So given that the XM Radio is built-in at the factory, you'd think Toyota would provide a display with similar capability. A friend of mine has XM Radio with his 2009 Prerunner. The stereo can't even display the full artist name in most cases because there's not enough room. And forget trying to read it with the sun glare readability problems I first described.
     
  14. Jun 5, 2011 at 2:07 PM
    #14
    seligman

    seligman [OP] Well-Known Member

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    On a related note, why does Toyota use separate clock and stereo modules? It has to be more expensive and it also wastes space.
     
  15. Jun 5, 2011 at 2:23 PM
    #15
    JKD

    JKD Well-Known Member

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    At least they have it as an option, I suppose. There is no reason why it should be only on the JBL up-option stereo.
     
  16. Jun 5, 2011 at 2:36 PM
    #16
    jtav2002

    jtav2002 Kenny Fuckin Powers

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    I have no problem reading my clock at anytime of day, and with polarized sunglasses. As far as the radio, I ditched mine for aftermarket so it's not an issue any more. The display is only the beginning of all the things wrong with the stock radio.
     
  17. Jun 5, 2011 at 2:56 PM
    #17
    captaingeech08

    captaingeech08 Active Member

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    My truck doesn't even have a clock. I wear a watch and I can see it fine during the day.
     
  18. Jun 5, 2011 at 4:05 PM
    #18
    seligman

    seligman [OP] Well-Known Member

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    In a way, that just proves my point.

    Since we're paying for these clocks and stereos, they ought to be useable and easy for everybody to see. We shouldn't have to take our sunglasses off, or turn the headlights off, in order to read a clock display when a cheap $10 watch is a definite improvement.

    The newest Tundras have a much improved stereo display:

    [​IMG]
     
  19. Jun 5, 2011 at 4:12 PM
    #19
    malander

    malander Well-Known Member

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    2nd genners cannot complain about their clocks, that right is reserved for 1st genners
     
  20. Jun 5, 2011 at 4:15 PM
    #20
    seligman

    seligman [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Hey, I have a 1st Gen Tacoma too.

    No clock at all on 1st Gen isn't much worse than the 2nd Gen clocks.
     

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